Home Remedies for Sunburn: 7 Natural Sunburn Remedies

Home Remedies for Sunburn: 7 Natural Sunburn Remedies

Home Remedies for Sunburn: 7 Natural Sunburn Remedies

One of the most common natural sunburn remedies is, Aloe Vera. But, did you know about these other natural home remedies for sunburn?

You need the sun to keep you healthy

I don’t know about you, but I need the sun in my life. When the winter starts to change more towards spring and the days get longer, I start to get excited because I know that I’m going to have the chance to be outside on bright sunny days and make the most of all that sunlight rich in Vitamin D.

It’s the best natural source of the stuff, and I can’t get enough of it, but that isn’t always the best choice for the health of your skin because too much of the UV rays from the sun can also have some negative effects. Of course, the most likely problem you will encounter comes in the form of sun burns.

Melanin production and tanning

Spending lots of time in the sun will cause your skin to increase the production of melanin, the agent in your skin that causes what we call tanning. This tanning process is actually designed to protect your skin from the increasing damages you may experience from too much sun.

The problem, though, is that continued exposure to the UV rays will cause the protection provided by the melanin to decrease. This can cause the death of cells in your body and also cause an increased flow of blood to that area which will result in inflammation and swelling.

This damaged area can lead to increased infection in the body since the skin is the first line of defense against germs and infection. Of course, it is best to limit your exposure to the sun, but if you do happen to get a sunburn, you can try out these great all natural home remedies for yourself.

Why be concerned?

This can cause the death of cells in your body and also cause an increased flow of blood to that area which will result in inflammation and swelling. This damaged area can lead to increased infection in the body since the skin is the first line of defense against germs and infection. Of course, it is best to limit your exposure to the sun, but if you do happen to get a sunburn, you can try out these great all natural home remedies for yourself.

Start with staying hydrated on sunny days

I’m sure you already know that most of your body is made up of water, but what happens to your systems when you don’t provide the right amount of water to keep your body hydrated? What if you combine that with too much UV exposure? Your body is going to experience a drought, and that will be a bad situation for all of your body.

When you experience a sunburn, your body will increase the water level at the surface of your skin to help counteract that burning. By staying hydrated, you will enable your body to keep the moisture level right where it needs to be. (Keep in mind that on an average day, the human body needs 6 to 8 glasses of water. That will increase on hotter days.)

Your body is going to experience a drought, and that will be a bad situation for all of your body. When you experience a sunburn, your body will increase the water level at the surface of your skin to help counteract that burning. By staying hydrated, you will enable your body to keep the moisture level right where it needs to be. (Keep in mind that on an average day, the human body needs 6 to 8 glasses of water. That will increase on hotter days.)

Cool off your burn with a cool shower

Again we turn to water to help out with the burn. Water is one of the best home remedies for sunburn you have. Especially to jumpstart the healing process. You don’t want to use extremely cold water as that can also damage your skin, but I usually start with cool water and slowly lower the temperature until it gets to be too cold.

That is how I maintain a nice balance. Also, make sure that the water pressure is not too high as a high-pressure stream of water on a sunburn will hurt no matter what the temperature might be. Avoid soaps and bath oils if they irritate your skin when you are washing.

Do not cause further damage to your skin by being impatient. You should also avoid rubbing your sunburn with your towel when you dry off.

Cool off your burn using tea bags

One last water related suggestion that you can use. Brew a couple of tea bags in hot water while you are in the shower and take them out and let them cool down. Now that they have cooled, you can take those tea bags and apply them directly to the location of the burn. the elements you will find in black and green tea act in a way that will help your burns to cool off and provide some relief from the pain you are feeling.

There are also catechins in the tea that will help to repair the damaged skin and protect your skin and help to limit the damage caused by free radicals. Make sure to drink the tea since that will assist with your hydration issues.

Try using the versatile coconut oil

Coconut oil seems to be everywhere and in everything these days. There are so many amazing things that can be done with this oil and from dental care to cooking, there seems to be no end to the ways that you can use it in your life.

One of these uses is to apply it to a sunburn to help with the healing process. The fatty acids in coconut oil help to reduce inflammation as well as fixing the dryness caused by the exposure to the sun. Not only that, but coconut oil can actually work as a substitute to sunscreen since it will block about 20 percent of the sun’s harmful rays. This can make a huge difference in your need to deal with sunburns in the future.

Cucumbers aren’t just for salads anymore

Did you know that most of a cucumber is actually water 95% in the cucumber which means that it is actually a higher percentage of water than the human body? As a result of this extra moisture, you will find that cucumber slices can assist you with your sun burn. Have you ever seen someone with cucumbers on their eye lids at a spa?

That is because they are using the moisture from the cucumber to assist with adding to the moisture level in the skin under the cucumber. This helps to improve the health of the skin and reduce inflammation in the area, another important tool in dealing with sunburns.

Hopefully, you have an aloe plant handy

Aloe Vera is a strange looking plant with some powerful healing properties if you know about them and how to use them. If you break one of the blades of the plant, it will secrete a clear gel that can be applied to cuts, scrapes, and burns in order to help them help faster and better.

You can also buy packaged aloe vera, but that is less effective than the gel straight from the plant as it is produced with added chemical. The best part of owning an aloe vera plant is that they are very difficult to kill and even the worst gardener will be able to keep one alive.

Apple cider vinegar can help as well

Apple cider vinegar is one of those great items to have around the house, just like coconut oil, but for different reasons. Not only can you use it for cooking, it will also work for a variety of home remedies both cleaning and personal care.

In the case of sunburns, you can apply it to your skin to help with the healing process. As a natural sunburn remedy, I wouldn’t recommend you apply it directly. Instead, dilute it down with water about half and half because applying this acid directly to your skin could cause irritation to your burns. Another great option is to use the apple cider vinegar as an addition to your bath water, or using a wash cloth to apply it gently.

Witch hazel isn’t just for witches

Native Americans have been using witch hazel for centuries, and it is another great option to help with inflammation and swelling that you might experience from your burns.

In a similar method to what happens with the tea, you will distill the leaves, bark, and stems in water to extract tannic acid. Applying this water directly to your skin will provide relief for the pain and heat you will experience for the over exposure to the sun’s light.

Protect your skin, but take care of it if something goes wrong too

Of course the best way to deal with a sunburn is to avoid ever getting one, but if you spent all day inside and out of the sun, you wouldn’t be able to get that vitamin D you need in your system, but you would also miss out on a lot of the fun things that happen in the world. So since you can’t just avoid the sun, be sure to use your sun screen and be aware of how to deal with a burn if you happen to get one.

Make sure to keep your skin cool and moist. This can be accomplished by staying hydrated by drinking lots of fluids and making sure that you have your other moisture related all natural remedies handy for use.

Remember to keep coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, and your aloe vera plant handy in case you need them as they are the most versatile options we suggested and can come in handy for plenty of other uses as well. Be sure to keep the skin cool and damp as that will help to reduce the heat and pain you will experience from the burn. Be patient and it will fade away soon.